Visa free policy for Russian passport holders

According to Decision No. 3207/2008/QD-BNG approved and signed on 10 December 2008 by the head of Vietnam Foreign Affairs Ministry, citizens of the Russian Federation bearing ordinary passports are exempt from visa when entering and exiting Vietnam regardless of their entry purposes within 15 days from the date of entry.

Please see below for English version of Decree No. 3207/2008/QD-BNG from Vietnam Forein Affairs Ministry. Please note that this translation is for reference only. This is not our publication. We are not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content.

PROMULGATING THE REGULATION ON VISA EXEMPTION FOR CITIZENS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION BEARING ORDINARY PASSPORTS

THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Pursuant to the April 28, 2000 Ordinance on Entry; Exit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam;
Pursuant to the Governments Decree No. 15/2008/ND-CP of February 4, 2008, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organization structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
Pursuant to the Government Offices Official Utter No. 5979/VPCP-QHQT of September 11, 2008, on visa exemption for citizens of the Russian Federation bearing ordinary passports;

DECIDES:

Article 1 . To promulgate together with this Decision the Regulation on visa exemption for citizens of the Russian Federation bearing ordinary passports to stay in the country within 15 days regardless of their entry purposes.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect on January 1, 2009.

Article 3. Heads of concerned units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall implement this Decision.

FOR THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
VICE MINISTER

Nguyen Thanh Son

REGULATION

ON VISA EXEMPTION FOR CITIZENS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION BEARING ORDINARY PASSPORTS(Promulgated together with the Foreign Affairs Ministers Decision No. 3207/2008/QD-BNG of December 10, 2008)

Chapter 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Citizens of the Russian Federation bearing ordinary passports are exempt from visa when entering and exiting Vietnam regardless of their entry purposes within 15 days from the date of entry if they satisfy the following conditions:

a/ Producing a lawful passport issued by a competent authority of the Russian Federation which remains valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry;

b/ Producing a return ticket or a ticket for travel to another country;

c/ Not being one of those ineligible for entering Vietnam under Items (b), (c), (d) and (e), Clause 1, Article 8 of the April 28, 2000 Ordinance on Entry, Exit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam.

Article 2. Citizens of the Russian Federation specified in Article 1 who wish to stay for over 15 days for a plausible reason and whose stay extension is proposed in writing by an agency, organization or individual in Vietnam to the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security (for those who must carry out immigration procedures at the Ministry of Public Security) or the Consular Department, the State Protocol Department or the Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Affairs Service under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for those who must carry out immigration procedures at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) may be considered for granting a visa and extending their stay in accordance with their stays purpose and exempting from visa and stay fees.

Article 3. Citizens of the Russian Federation who fail to satisfy one the conditions specified in Article 1 of this Regulation may not enter Vietnam or may have their stay in Vietnam shortened.

Chapter 2

ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

Article 4. Citizens of the Russian Federation eligible for visa exemption prescribed in Article 1 of this Regulation who have received a visa to enter Vietnam before January 1, 2009, may enter and exit Vietnam according to the validity term of their visa.

Article 5. The director of the Consular Department shall notify, in accordance with diplomatic formalities, the Russian Federation of the Vietnamese Governments visa exemption for citizens of the Russian Federation under this Regulation as well as its possible annulment of this Regulation when necessary.